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Platelets

A National Statement on the Clinical Indications for Apheresis and Whole Blood Pooled Platelets

This statement has been developed to help plan for the future demand trends for platelets and determine the most appropriate split between apheresis and whole blood pooled platelets to meet clinical demand.

Clinical indications were reviewed for each type of platelet component based on current evidence and expert opinion taking into account relevant Patient Blood Management (PBM) guidelines. These clinical indications were used in the development of the National Blood Supply Contingency Plan Annex C- Platelet Response Plan.

Once decision is made to prescribe a platelet transfusion, the National Statement provides clinicians with information regarding the selection of either apheresis platelets or whole blood pooled platelets – absolute and relative indications for particular platelet types.

The National Statement was commissioned by the National Blood Authority from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service under the guidance of the Jurisdictional Blood Committee Working Group. These statements, and supportive documentation, were developed with a panel of expert clinicians, including eminent haematology experts.